TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 129

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. British subjecthood and Cɔmonwealth citizenship should be abolished.

Citizenship of the United Kingdow and Colonies, British subjecthood without citizenship and British protected personage should be replaced.

2.

3.

4.

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There should be a new status known as citizenship of the United Kingdom, embracing everyone who has specified associations with the Kingdom, including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

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There should also be a new status known as nationality of the United Kingdom, embraging:

(i) All citizens of the United Kingdom

(ii)

Everyone who has specified associations with existing dependencies

(iii) Under transitional arrangements, everyone who is at present

a citizen of the U.K. and Colonies, British protected person or British subject without citizenship by association with former dependencies.

5. Citizenship of the United Kingdom should be a status denoting rights

and obligations in our internal law; nationality of the United Kingdom should denote the connections between the individual and the state with a view to international affairs.

6.

7.

8.

Citizenship of the United Kingdom should be conferred automatically on everyone born in the Kingdom unless either parent is a diplomat. It should also be conferred on every child born abroad to a parent who was a citizen by birth in the Kingdoa; no distinction should be drawn according to the parent's sex.

Husbands or wives of citizens of the United Kingdom should be entitled to become citizens, irrespective of sex, once they are lawfully resident in the Kingdom.

Others should be able to take citizenship at the Home Secretary's discretion, as at present; but there should be a right of appeal to

adjudicators and a Tribunal.

S. Each existing dependency should be enabled, but not forced, to create

its own citizenships and its own laws governing acquisition and loss of

that status.

10. Dual or plural nationality should be discouraged; an emigrant who becomes naturalized abroad should normally lose his United Kingdom citizenship; an immigrant who takes citizenship of this eontry should normally renounce his old status; and a child born with citizenship of the United Kingdom and that of another country should normally make a choice between them when he reaches adulthood.